Police investigating the murder of 19-year-old Leah Croucher found human remains on a property where some of her possessions were discovered.


Thames Valley Police earlier found her backpack and her personal items at a house on Loxbeare Drive in Furzton, Milton Keynes.


The teenager was last seen on CCTV in the city on February 15, 2019.

No formal identification has been carried out, but Miss Croucher’s family has been kept informed, the force said.


“It is likely to take some time to formally identify the deceased,” a spokesman said.

Officers have been at the property since 18:30 BST on Monday, after receiving a tip from a member of the public, and said on Wednesday that a murder investigation had been launched after her belongings were found.

Human remains were later discovered during “forensic examinations”.


Police described the scene as “challenging and complex” and said “forensic examination is continuing and will be for some time.”

Since Miss Croucher’s disappearance on her way to work at a financial firm three years ago, police have carried out more than 4,000 house-to-house investigations and reviewed 1,200 hours of security camera video.

Forensic experts have been seen obtaining specialized equipment from a white van parked in the driveway of the neighboring property, and also from a police truck marked on the street.

Forensic officers carrying equipment to the house in Milton Keynes being searched

Forensic officers have been seen bringing special equipment into the house.
Miss Croucher was described by loved ones as “very quiet” and “not really an outgoing type of person”, and she would rather read fantastic fiction or watch DVDs in her bedroom than go out at night in the pub.

She had competed internationally in taekwondo, but her father said that she “wasn’t a fighter.”

Beyond the police tape, the atmosphere is one of confusion. People stand around the cordon wondering what is going on in this generally quiet area.

For the neighbors it is a feeling of shock and anguish. Many helped search for Leah after her disappearance: a reward poster is nailed to a tree just yards from the hive of police activity.

Miss Croucher’s family was hit by a new tragedy when her half-brother, Haydon Croucher, took his own life, aged 24, in November 2019.

Her mother said that she had found the disappearance “very difficult”.

Aerial view of the house being searched in the Leah Croucher case
A police scene is likely to remain in place for the next few days.
Following the inquest update, Ben Everitt, Conservative MP for Milton Keynes North, said he hoped he could “provide some answers to Leah’s loved ones”.

“My thoughts continue to be with Leah’s family and friends at this incredibly difficult time,” he said.

Source: https://wikisoon.com/